Migraine in the United States

A review of epidemiology and health care use

Lipton, Richard B. MD
Stewart, Walter F. MPh, PhD

Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and the Headache Unit, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY (Dr. Lipton); and the Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore (Dr. Stewart).

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. R.B. Lipton, Department of Neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467.

Neurology 43(6):p S6-S10, June 1993.

Article abstract

According to the American Migraine Study, 17.6% of females and 6.0% of males in the United States currently suffer from severe migraine. These findings are based on the responses of more than 20,000 people to a self-administered questionnaire mailed to respondents. The study reveals that migraine prevalence varies according to age, gender, and income. Despite high rates of headache-related disability, the study also shows that most people with migraine have never been diagnosed by a doctor or treated with prescription medications. To improve diagnosis and treatment of migraine, public health interventions are indicated.